bluelizzz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Чудова книга.
Повільна на початку, але сюжет стрімко розвивається у другій половині та до кінця тримає в напрузі. Не настільки банальна, як може здатися - в історії достатньо моментів, що можуть здивувати.
Перші дві глави плутають нового читача - без вступу починаються описи природи та якогось будинку, що мариться героїні уві сні; в читача кидають іменами ще невідомих персонажів, секундними спогадами про загадкові події, які нас ще чекають, але ніби вже відбулися; словом, все вимазано у товстий шар ностальгії, чужої неприємної ностальгії, коли відчуваєш себе незручно чужим у теплих спогадах незнайомця.
Цей літературний прийом працює на відмінно, бо чепляє своєю дивністю, та "безшовно" поєднує кінець і початок історії (серйозно, після закінчення книжки поверніться на початок і прочитайте перші дві глави знову - ефект вражаючий).
Герої до болю реалістичні, зі своїми тривогами, страхами, недоліками, протягом всієї історії викликають то підозри і антипатію, роздратування до скрипу зубів, то розуміння і співчуття, в чомусь навіть і симпатію.
Авторка так поступово і майстерно розкручує розповідь, що відчуваючи ті чи інші емоції читач навіть не здогадується, що вони цілком навмисно викликані геніальною пані Дафною дю Мор'є. Тільки закривши книгу на останньому рядку пазл складається в повну картину і талант письменниці не викликає питань.
Навіть описи природи, так ненависні мною, мають свій сенс в контексті розвитку історії та відображення внутрішніх переживань головної героїні (безіменної героїні, що теж як виявилось було важливо для поринення в події книги).
Рекомендую до прочитання всім з великим терпінням (вас буде за це винагороджено) та імунітетом до описів природи (рододендрони не те, чим здаються), хто не проти опинитись в голові 20-річної невротички, щоб пережити глибоку сімейну драму та споглядати її внутрішній розвиток (насправді краще, ніж звучить).
Перечитувати не планую, одного разу цілком достатньо; також я не фанатка циклитись на психології та думках гг всю книгу, тому для мене книга тверда 4.0 з 5.0
Повільна на початку, але сюжет стрімко розвивається у другій половині та до кінця тримає в напрузі. Не настільки банальна, як може здатися - в історії достатньо моментів, що можуть здивувати.
Перші дві глави плутають нового читача - без вступу починаються описи природи та якогось будинку, що мариться героїні уві сні; в читача кидають іменами ще невідомих персонажів, секундними спогадами про загадкові події, які нас ще чекають, але ніби вже відбулися; словом, все вимазано у товстий шар ностальгії, чужої неприємної ностальгії, коли відчуваєш себе незручно чужим у теплих спогадах незнайомця.
Цей літературний прийом працює на відмінно, бо чепляє своєю дивністю, та "безшовно" поєднує кінець і початок історії (серйозно, після закінчення книжки поверніться на початок і прочитайте перші дві глави знову - ефект вражаючий).
Герої до болю реалістичні, зі своїми тривогами, страхами, недоліками, протягом всієї історії викликають то підозри і антипатію, роздратування до скрипу зубів, то розуміння і співчуття, в чомусь навіть і симпатію.
Авторка так поступово і майстерно розкручує розповідь, що відчуваючи ті чи інші емоції читач навіть не здогадується, що вони цілком навмисно викликані геніальною пані Дафною дю Мор'є. Тільки закривши книгу на останньому рядку пазл складається в повну картину і талант письменниці не викликає питань.
Навіть описи природи, так ненависні мною, мають свій сенс в контексті розвитку історії та відображення внутрішніх переживань головної героїні (безіменної героїні, що теж як виявилось було важливо для поринення в події книги).
Рекомендую до прочитання всім з великим терпінням (вас буде за це винагороджено) та імунітетом до описів природи (рододендрони не те, чим здаються), хто не проти опинитись в голові 20-річної невротички, щоб пережити глибоку сімейну драму та споглядати її внутрішній розвиток (насправді краще, ніж звучить).
Перечитувати не планую, одного разу цілком достатньо; також я не фанатка циклитись на психології та думках гг всю книгу, тому для мене книга тверда 4.0 з 5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Murder, Cancer, Death, and Blood
Minor: Stalking, Animal death, Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Alcohol, Misogyny, and Terminal illness
redheadorganist's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Blood, Death, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Moderate: Cancer, Suicide, and Infidelity
Minor: Medical content and Animal cruelty
pkc's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book was a legato across the continent and into the English countryside, wrapped in intrigue and mystery. The eponymous Rebecca looms large as the second Mrs de Winter navigates her life with the aloof Maxim de Winter of Manderley following a brief romance in the hills and beaches of Monte Carlo. This book has an incredibly layered cast of characters, including the narrator, Maxim, the truly DEVILISH Mrs Danvers, among many others. The plot has twists, turns and more psycho drama than you can imagine. I literally deducted half a star because of pace towards the end, but other than that, it was twisty turny perfection!
Spoiler
without ever making an appearance in physical form
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Incest, Infidelity, Infertility, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Fire/Fire injury
poisonenvy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
While I read this book back in December, I withheld my review in support of the HarperCollins Union strike, which lasted for over two months. In light of their recently ratifying their contract, I'll post my review now:
Our main character, who's known only as Mrs. de Winters (the second Mrs. de Winters, as it is) meets her much-older husband, Maxim, while on vacation, and married him after only a few weeks of knowing him. Maxim is recently widowed, and when the narrator goes back to his estate, Mandersley, she finds that it's not quite what she expected, especially once she finds that she can't escape the shadow cast by his late wife, the charming, beautiful, and beloved Rebecca.
If there's one thing that Daphne Du Maurier does well, it's that she's masterful at setting atmospheric tension. This book is slow, but it's told in such a way that it keeps you at the edge of your seat. There was an entire chapter where nothing much happened, but that I could barely bring myself to read it because of how much second-hand embarrassment/cringing I was feeling.
Overall, this book is crafted beautifully. The narrator has a vivid imagination, one of the most vivid I've read in fiction and which I related far too much to as anxiety daydreams. I thought the choice to exclude her "beautiful and unique" name from the narrative was brilliantly done -- she's only Mrs. de Winters, unable to be separated from her husband, unable to stand on her own two feet.
I read this with my bookclub, and had a great time with them trying to navigate through the twist and the turns of the story. This was honestly excellent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Murder, Ableism, and Incest
Minor: Infertility
sennaje's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Grief, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and Murder
clairew97's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Classism, Gaslighting, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Incest, Medical content, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Bullying, Infidelity, Infertility, Cancer, Death, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Misogyny, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, and Terminal illness
laurataylor's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Cancer, Death, Incest, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Infertility
damitajo's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Emotional abuse
Minor: Cancer and Domestic abuse
visorforavisor's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It’s been years since I read du Maurier’s classic, Rebecca, and it’s still just as good — better, even.
The tension in the story, the alluring kindness of Maxim de Winter, and the fact that his past with Rebecca is getting in the way of him expressing his true affections to his young bride are simply fantastic to read. The pace of the story is very slow but somehow the pages just flew by. It doesn’t feel as though the book is as long as it is (well over a hundred thousand words, I believe). The characters are varying degrees of relatability: personally I see a lot of myself in our nameless narrator, and I love Frank Crawley; Beatrice is the kind of bumbling, filterless person I really like; and Maxim does try, bless him.
Oddly, despite the inevitable historical language, I actually didn’t mind the portrayal of the “idiot”, Ben. The acknowledgement that people do abuse and manipulate us (mentally disabled people), and make threats that nobody would ever believe have been made, felt good. The simple fact, too, that he is a nice person was wonderful. For 1938 it’s good!
The intrigue and mystery surrounding the late Rebecca de Winter is one of the best tension-fuelled factors in any book. For more or less the entire story, our narrator is motivated by her desire to live up to Rebecca and what she represented, even just in the estimation of Maxim; I think that she could take or leave people like the bishop’s wife. As we find out more and more about Rebecca and how universally adored she was, our picture of her becomes clearer — and the periodic reminders that she died by drowning make us feel sicker.
I remembered the reveal from the last time I read this (about six years ago), but it was still so bloody good. The suspense, the heightened emotions, the tightly-strung importance of that scene: they were so strong, just like the scent that our narrator finds on Rebecca’s things.
Maxim’s behaviour is dubious, and he is careless. I don’t think, however, that he is the abuser that some would have painted him as. He is emotionally disconnected and hasn’t done a lot of the work that he should have. I think, though, if we claim he’s manipulating his second wife, we remove her agency. She knows he’s a shitty person. Her decision (which it is) to still love him makes her interesting (as well as considerate, I think, given the circumstances of why he did what he did). He treats her badly sometimes, out of what I believe is carelessness and emotional trauma from having been abused, but he also treats her well when he realises what her problems are. They’re both absolutely dreadful communicators, and — don’t get me wrong — he could have been a lot nicer about the whole dress thing. But I think some people could do with remembering that men can be abused too.
The tension in the story, the alluring kindness of Maxim de Winter, and the fact that his past with Rebecca is getting in the way of him expressing his true affections to his young bride are simply fantastic to read. The pace of the story is very slow but somehow the pages just flew by. It doesn’t feel as though the book is as long as it is (well over a hundred thousand words, I believe). The characters are varying degrees of relatability: personally I see a lot of myself in our nameless narrator, and I love Frank Crawley; Beatrice is the kind of bumbling, filterless person I really like; and Maxim does try, bless him.
Oddly, despite the inevitable historical language, I actually didn’t mind the portrayal of the “idiot”, Ben. The acknowledgement that people do abuse and manipulate us (mentally disabled people), and make threats that nobody would ever believe have been made, felt good. The simple fact, too, that he is a nice person was wonderful. For 1938 it’s good!
The intrigue and mystery surrounding the late Rebecca de Winter is one of the best tension-fuelled factors in any book. For more or less the entire story, our narrator is motivated by her desire to live up to Rebecca and what she represented, even just in the estimation of Maxim; I think that she could take or leave people like the bishop’s wife. As we find out more and more about Rebecca and how universally adored she was, our picture of her becomes clearer — and the periodic reminders that she died by drowning make us feel sicker.
I remembered the reveal from the last time I read this (about six years ago), but it was still so bloody good. The suspense, the heightened emotions, the tightly-strung importance of that scene: they were so strong, just like the scent that our narrator finds on Rebecca’s things.
Maxim’s behaviour is dubious, and he is careless. I don’t think, however, that he is the abuser that some would have painted him as. He is emotionally disconnected and hasn’t done a lot of the work that he should have. I think, though, if we claim he’s manipulating his second wife, we remove her agency. She knows he’s a shitty person. Her decision (which it is) to still love him makes her interesting (as well as considerate, I think, given the circumstances of why he did what he did). He treats her badly sometimes, out of what I believe is carelessness and emotional trauma from having been abused, but he also treats her well when he realises what her problems are. They’re both absolutely dreadful communicators, and — don’t get me wrong — he could have been a lot nicer about the whole dress thing. But I think some people could do with remembering that men can be abused too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Incest and Suicide
Minor: Cancer and Terminal illness
magellen's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Whenever I read this book I'm just like dang did the ADHD/autistic girlies in 1938 feel seen.
Oh poor sweet HELLA adhd Mrs. DeWinter - it is so deeply amusing to read this book, with her being "embarrassed for them because they didn't have the sense to" and her intense rejection sensitivity disorder and all her wild conjectures and anxiety.
This is such a fantastic book in the gothic catalogue and a classic of twisty overlapping story. Its ableist and racist in places in line with shitty white moneyed people of the era.
Young wife, husband twice her age, giant estate and a malicious housekeeper. Lots of secrets. Lots of miscommunication haha
Oh poor sweet HELLA adhd Mrs. DeWinter - it is so deeply amusing to read this book, with her being "embarrassed for them because they didn't have the sense to" and her intense rejection sensitivity disorder and all her wild conjectures and anxiety.
This is such a fantastic book in the gothic catalogue and a classic of twisty overlapping story. Its ableist and racist in places in line with shitty white moneyed people of the era.
Young wife, husband twice her age, giant estate and a malicious housekeeper. Lots of secrets. Lots of miscommunication haha
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Grief, Bullying, and Infidelity
Minor: Suicide, Racism, Murder, Mental illness, and Alcoholism